Slow Down to Get There Quicker

We all do it to some extent. We bust our asses, trying our best to get things done. And for the most part, we manage. We are somehow able to mostly keep it all together and pump out work day after day. We realize some successes along the way, delivering on a couple of projects, maybe even nailing a promotion. But I am sure that I am not alone in feeling that at the end of a busy day, I sometimes still feel empty. Like I honestly did not accomplish what I had aspired to get done. It feels awful. It can drag you down. You think to yourself “But I was busy all day long!” Yet still, there is that feeling. Nagging at you.

The best way to ensure maximum productivity is to slow down now and then. Take time to breathe. Think about the work that is in front of you. What tasks actually need doing? What can be better done by someone else? Is there a better way to tackle a particular assignment?

Think of it like cutting a piece of wood. You can cut and cut and cut, and you will certainly continue to cut the wood. Howerver, sometimes it is a much better idea to stop cutting. Pause. Sharpen the saw. Then go back and cut some more, and discover that you are able to cut so much more efficiently! I love that analogy. I forget where I heard the concept, so cannot adequately provide credit (sorry). But it is an idea that deeply resonated with me.

I have built the concept of pausing to reflect into my way of working, making it part of my workflow. I will not claim that I have it entirely nailed down yet though, that is for certain. I sometimes still go too fast, acting before thinking. It is part of who I am; I have a strong bias towards action. Yet I know that it is essential to stop and take time to think strategically from time to time. Where am I leading the team? Are there significant obstacles that are headed our way? What can I do to make it easier for people around me to be successful? Taking the time for this type of reflection is essential in our complex and rapidly-changing work environment.

My approach is to book a meeting with myself, at least once per week, and reflect on these types of questions. I will also take some time to discuss these things with my team. I try to respect those sessions as sacred, and not allow anything to interrupt them. But I am human and am still a work in progress. Sometimes I do permit something “urgent” to push aside this time. But I know that this practice is essential, and I try to respect these sessions as much as possible.

Being busy does not equate to being productive.

I urge you to slow down, every now and then. Take some time. Think about your work. Think about the work of your team. Think about the long-term goals, and reflect on whether or not the decisions that you and your team are making day to day are in complete alignment with those long-term goals. Taking that time for reflection will help ensure that you are heading down the right path.

Heading down the wrong path will keep you moving, but it certainly won’t get you there any faster.